Random Access Procedure

ABSTRACT

Embodiments include methods performed by a wireless device for random access to a wireless communications network. Such methods include transmitting a random access preamble in a first uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) of a carrier and selecting a first downlink (DL) BWP of the carrier based on an association between the first UL BWP and the first DL BWP. Such methods include monitoring the first DL BWP for a random access response from the wireless communication network to the transmitted random access preamble. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a base station configured to support random access by wireless devices, as well as wireless devices and base stations configured to perform such methods.

INTRODUCTION

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according totheir ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless adifferent meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context inwhich it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus,component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referringto at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means,step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methodsdisclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact orderdisclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following orpreceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step mustfollow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, whereverappropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may applyto any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features andadvantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from thefollowing description.

The evolving 5G standard NR (New Radio) is aiming to operate in a widerange of frequencies from below 1 GHz up to 100 GHz. In such a frequencyrange, the random access procedure in NR may be improved to mitigate thepotential propagation losses at high frequency carriers.

For NR, there is an ongoing discussion in the 3gpp standardization onthe use of Band Width Parts (BWPs). BWPs are a subset of contiguousphysical resources within a carrier. The reasons for using BWPs are thatsome wireless devices might not be able to use the entire bandwidth, forexample narrowband internet of things (NB-loT) devices. Such devices maybe assigned a smaller section of bandwidth, a BWP, which they arecapable of handling. Another reason for using BWPs may be for providingbattery savings. A wireless may be assigned a BWP rather than an entireBW in order to reduce the energy needed for reception and transmission.Yet another reason for using BWPs may be for load balancing when thewireless devices do not need the entire BW to meet the bit raterequirements.

So far, it has been agreed that each wireless device may be assignedwith at least an initial BWP (which may be the same for all wirelessdevices and may be narrow enough for all wireless devices to handle) anda default BWP. The default BWP may be the same as the initial BWP butmay also be different (i.e. different wireless devices will typicallyhave different default BWPs). In addition to an initial and a defaultBWP, each wireless device may be configured with additional BWPs thatmay be used in different circumstances. In some examples, a wirelessdevice may be configured to use up to four different DL and fourdifferent UL BWPs. In some examples, any point in time, only one BWP isactive for a specific wireless device.

The wireless device may be configured with different BWPs by receipt ofradio resource control (RRC) signaling. In some examples the differentBWPs may be configured in minimum System Information (SI). The initialBWP may be preconfigured in the wireless device. Switching between BWPsmay be controlled by Downlink Control Information (DCI) on the PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH). There is also a possibility for awireless device to be configured to switch to the default BWP when atimer, e.g. bwp-InactivityTimer expires.

A configured uplink (UL) BWP may comprise random access resources, i.e.Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resources which may be used totransmit random access requests. However, there may also be UL BWPswhich do not comprise random access resources, in which case thewireless device may switch to another UL BWP which does comprise randomaccess resources in order to perform a random access procedure. Also forPhysical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) a BWP may or may not have PUCCHresources configured. The reason for not having a PUCCH configured isthat the PUCCH resources occupy resources within the BWP which may leadto excess overhead (especially in configured but not active BWPs).

FIG. 1 Illustrates an Example of a Random Access Procedure

There currently exist certain challenge(s). FIG. 1 illustrates anexample of a random access procedure. In step 100 the wireless deviceselects one of a plurality of PRACH contention-free signatures andtransmits a random access preamble, e.g. a Msg1. In some examples, theremay be 64 contention free signatures from which the wireless device mayrandomly select.

In step 101 the base station transmits a Random Access Response (RAR),e.g. a Msg2, on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). The RARmay be addressed with an ID, the Random Access Radio Network TemporaryIdentifier (RA-RNTI), and may identify the time-frequency slot in whichthe random access preamble was detected. If multiple wireless deviceshad collided by selecting the same signature in the same preambletime-frequency resource, they would both receive the same RAR.

In step 102 a Layer 2/Layer 3 (L2/L3) Message, e.g. a Msg3 istransmitted from the wireless device to the base station. This messageis the first scheduled uplink transmission on the PUSCH and makes use ofHybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). Msg3 may also convey thewireless device identifier. Msg3 may also convey the actual randomaccess procedure message.

In step 103 the base station transmits a contention resolution message,e.g. a Msg4. If the wireless device correctly decodes the message anddetects its own identity it sends back positive acknowledgment ACK. Onthe other hand, if the wireless device correctly decodes the message anddiscovers that it contains another wireless device identity (contentionresolution), it sends nothing back (Discontinuous Transmission).

FIG. 2 Illustrates DL/UL BWPs from the Network Point of View

The issue is illustrated in FIG. 2 where there are several UL BWPs, fordifferent wireless devices, where the UL BWPs overlap with each other.The radio access resources are configured within the overlapping region.For example, the radio access resources may be configured in thephysical resource block PRB3. The UL BWP1 may comprise physical resourceblocks PRB1, PRB2 and PRB3, the UL BWP2 may comprise the physicalresource block PRB2, PRB3 and PRB4, and the UL BWP3 may comprise thephysical resource blocks PRB2 and PRB3.

In this example, a wireless device A is configured to use UL BWP1, awireless device B is configured to use UL BWP2 and a wireless device Cis configured to use UL BWP 3.

In this example all of the illustrated UL BWPs comprise the physicalresource block PRB3 which comprises the random access resources.However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments some of thewireless devices may be configured with UL BWPs which do not comprisethe random access resources. However, when initiating a random accessprocedure, the wireless devices may switch to a UL BWP which doescomprise the random access resources.

In the downlink, wireless device A may be using DL BWP1 as its active DLBWP which comprises the physical resource block PRB5; wireless device Bmay be using DL BWP2 as its active DL BWP which comprises physicalresource blocks PRB5 and PRB6; and wireless device C may be using DLBWP3 as its active DL BWP which comprises physical resource blocks PRB5,PRB6 and PRB7.

In this case when a wireless device (e.g. one of the wireless devices A,B or C) sends a random access preamble on its active UL BWP, thereceiving base station may not be aware of which wireless device, e.g.which or wireless devices A, B or C, transmitted the random accesspreamble and therefore may not know in which DL BWP it should send arandom access response, nor in which UL BWP uplink resources should beallocated for the wireless device to transmit a Msg3.

In this case, the base station may need to provide multiple UL grants ofuplink resources in all UL BWPs that comprise random access resources,i.e. in each of UL BWP1, UL BWP2 and UL BWP3, in order for all wirelessdevices that could have sent the random access preamble to be able totransmit a Msg3. The random access response (RAR) message may also needto be transmitted on all DL BWPs so that all wireless devices that couldhave sent the random access preamble would be able to receive the RAR.However, this solution is not efficient in terms of both the resourceutilization and the latency.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments mayprovide solutions to these or other challenges. Embodiments disclosedherein address the aforementioned issue where there are multiplewireless devices sharing the same random access resources to transmitrandom access preambles, where these UEs may belong to different UL BWPsor/and DL BWPs. In this case, we propose a method to define anassociation between DL BWPs and PRACH configurations. With this method,the base station may only transmit random access responses on one ormore configured DL BWP(s) associated with either the physical randomaccess configuration used to transmit the preamble, or the UL BWP thatthe wireless device used to transmit the random access preamble.

Summary

There are, proposed herein, various embodiments which address one ormore of the issues disclosed herein.

According to some embodiments there is provided a method performed by awireless device for performing a random access procedure to access awireless communications network. The method comprises responsive totransmitting a first random access preamble to a base station usingfirst random access resources in an uplink, UL, bandwidth part, BWP, ofa carrier selecting, based on an association, a first downlink, DL, BWPof the carrier. The association maps a plurality of DL BWPs of thecarrier to different values of a parameter related to physical randomaccess configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier. Themethod further comprises monitoring the first DL BWP in order to receivea random access response from the base station.

According to some embodiments there is provided a method performed by abase station for performing a random access procedure. The methodcomprises receiving from a wireless device, a first random accesspreamble on first random access resources and selecting based on anassociation, one or more DL BWPs. The association maps a plurality of DLBWPs of a carrier to different values of a parameter related to physicalrandom access configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier.The method further comprises transmitting a respective random accessresponse message using resources in each of the one or more DL BWPs.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technicaladvantage(s). In particular, embodiments disclosed herein reduce theresources required in both UL and DL for performing the random accessprocedure by reducing the number of RAR transmissions needed in casewireless devices with different active DL BWPs share the same PRACHresources, and by reducing the number of granted uplink resources forMsg3 in case several wireless devices with different active UL BWPsshare the same PRACH resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example random access procedure;

FIG. 2 illustrates DL/UL BWPs from the network point of view;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an association which maps a pluralityof DL BWPs to different physical random access configurations indexes;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an association which maps a pluralityof DL BWPs to different sets of preambles or resources;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an association which maps a pluralityof DL BWPs to different sets of UL BWPs;

FIG. 6 illustrates a wireless network in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a User Equipment in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a virtualization environment in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a telecommunication network connected via anintermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a Host computer communicating via a base stationwith a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordancewith some embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates methods implemented in a communication systemincluding a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates methods implemented in a communication systemincluding a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates methods implemented in a communication systemincluding a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 14 illustrates methods implemented in a communication systemincluding a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 15 illustrates a method in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 16 illustrates a method in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 17 illustrates a virtualization apparatus in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 18 illustrates a virtualization apparatus in accordance with someembodiments.

DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described morefully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments,however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosedherein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limitedto only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter tothose skilled in the art.

There are multiple embodiments described below to explain the details ofthe invention.

For example, a wireless device may perform a random access procedure toaccess a wireless communications network. To do this, as described abovewith reference to FIG. 1 the wireless device may send a random accesspreamble, e.g. Msg1 to a base station. As described previously, wherethe wireless device is configured to use an UL BWP, it may either userandom access resources within the active UL BWP to transmit the randomaccess preamble, or may switch to a different UL BWP which comprisesrandom access resources to transmit the random access preamble if thecurrent active UL BWP does not comprise random access resources.

Responsive to transmitting a first random access preamble to a basestation using first random access resources in an uplink, UL, bandwidthpart, BWP, of a carrier the wireless device may then select, based on anassociation, a first downlink, DL, BWP of the carrier. The wirelessdevice may then monitor the first DL BWP in order to receive a randomaccess response from the base station, e.g. to receive a Msg2 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 .

The association may be a predetermined or preconfigured associationwhich maps a plurality of DL BWPs of the carrier to different values ofa parameter related to physical random access configurations and/or todifferent UL BWPs of the carrier.

FIG. 3 Illustrates an Example of an Association Which Maps a Pluralityof DL BWPs to Different Physical Random Access Configurations Indexes

In this example, DL BWP1 is mapped to the physical random accessconfigurations with index 0 to 10 or with index 11 to 14. DL BWP2 ismapped to the PRACH configurations with index 11 to 14 or 24 to 63. DLBWP3 is mapped to the PRACH configurations with index 15 to 23 or 24 to63. It will be appreciated that FIG. 3 is an example of an associationand that any suitable mapping may be used.

In this example, the parameter comprises an index of a physical randomaccess channel configuration. The wireless device may thereforedetermine a first index of a first physical random access channelconfiguration used to transmit the random access preamble, and mayselect the first DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped to the firstindex in the association. In other words, if for example, the firstindex is 12, the wireless device may select the first DL BWP from DLBWP1 and DL BWP2. Alternatively, if the first index is 21 the wirelessdevice may select DL BWP3 as the first DL BWP as this is the only DL BWPavailable in the association for a PRACH configuration index of 21.

In some examples, indices of DL BWPs are added to the PRACHconfiguration structures, for example using RACH-ConfigCommon andRACH-ConfigDedicated in the RRC spec. Each index may indicate a DL BWPon which the RAR will be transmitted when the particular PRACHconfiguration is used.

In some examples, a set of preambles may be associated with an index, ora set of resources may be associated with an index. This index may thenbe mapped to DL BWPs.

FIG. 4 Illustrates an Example of an Association Which Maps a Pluralityof DL BWPs to Different Sets of Preambles or Resources

In this example, DL BWP1 is mapped to the preambles or resources withindex 0 or with index 1. DL BWP2 is mapped to the preambles or resourceswith index 1 or with index 3. DL BWP3 is mapped to the preambles orresources with index 2 or with index 3. It will be appreciated that FIG.4 is an example of an association and that any suitable mapping may beused.

In some examples, the parameter comprises an indication of a set ofrandom access resources. The wireless device may therefore select thefirst DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first random accessresources in the association. For the example in FIG. 2 , the randomaccess resources are in PRB3. If for example, PRB3 is in the set ofresources associated with index 3, the wireless device may select thefirst DL BWP from DL BWP2 and DL BWP3. Alternatively, if PRB3 is in theset of resources associated with index 0, the wireless device may selectDL BWP1 as the first DL BWP.

In some examples, the parameter comprises an indication of a set ofrandom access preambles. The wireless device may therefore select thefirst DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first random accesspreamble in the association. For example, if the first random accesspreamble used is in the set of preambles associated with index 3, thewireless device may select the first DL BWP from DL BWP2 and DL BWP3.Alternatively, if the first random access preamble is in the set ofresources associated with index 0, the wireless device may select DLBWP1 as the first DL BWP.

In some examples, this index associated with the set of resources or setof preambles can be a new index associated with a set of preambles or aset of PRACH resources. In each downlink BWP configuration structure, anindicator may be added to indicate whether a PRACH configuration isenabled or disabled in the associated downlink BWP.

FIG. 5 Illustrates an Example of an Association Which Maps a Pluralityof DL BWPs to Different Sets of UL BWPs

In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the association maps oneor more DL BWPs to each of a plurality of UL BWPs. Each UL BWP wherePRACH resources are available is linked to one or multiple DL BWPs.

In this example, DL BWP1 is mapped to UL BWP1 and UL BWP2. DL BWP2 ismapped to UL BWP2. DL BWP3 is mapped to UL BWP3. It will be appreciatedthat FIG. 5 is an example of an association and that any suitablemapping may be used.

In this example, the wireless device may therefore select the first DLBWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped to the UL BWP used to transmit therandom access preamble. If for example, the wireless device is using ULBWP2, the wireless device may select the first DL BWP from DL BWP1 andDL BWP2. Alternatively, the wireless device is using UL BWP3 thewireless device may select DL BWP3 as the first DL BWP.

When a wireless device initiates a random access procedure using aselected PRACH configuration/resource on the current active UL BWP, thewireless device therefore determines one or more DL BWPs indicated bythe association based on either the PRACH configuration or resources, orthe current active UL BWP.

After the transmission of the random access preamble, the wirelessdevice switches to one of the determined one or more DL BWPs to monitorfor a RAR. In some examples, the wireless device monitors the first DLBWP for a predetermined time period (e.g., the duration of RAR window,or an additional configured timer), and responsive to the predeterminedtime period elapsing, the wireless device may switch back to theprevious active BWP for possible data reception.

In some examples, the wireless device may monitor both its active DLBWP, and one or more BWPs that are associated to the PRACHconfiguration, the PRACH resources or the UL BWP used for the preambletransmission.

The selection of the first DL BWP for RAR monitoring may be performed inseveral ways. In one example, responsive to the one or more DL BWPscomprising an active DL BWP which the wireless device is configured tomonitor for data reception, the wireless device may select the active DLBWP as the first DL BWP. In this example therefore the wireless devicedoes not switch DL BWP in order to monitor for receipt of a RAR.

In some examples, the wireless device randomly selects one of the one ormore configured DL BWPs for RAR monitoring.

In yet another example, the wireless device selects the first DL BWPbased on a bandwidth capability of the wireless device. For example thewireless device may only be able to monitor a certain bandwidth size ofDL BWP and may therefore select the first DL BWP from the one or more DLBWP based on the size of the one or more DL BWPs.

In one further example, the wireless device may monitor multiple DL BWPsat the same time for RAR reception. For example, the wireless device mayselect more than one first DL BWP to monitor for RAR reception.

The UE may also monitor DL BWPs for reception of a RAR on the one ormore DL BWPs sequentially. For example, the wireless device firstmonitors one DL BWP, if there is no RAR received for a given timeperiod, the UE moves to next DL BWP. For example, the wireless devicemay monitor the first DL BWP for a predetermined time period; andresponsive to the predetermined time period elapsing may select a secondDL BWP based on the association, and may monitor the second DL BWP.

A base station may also perform a random access procedure. For example,the base station may receive from a wireless device, a first randomaccess preamble on first random access resources. For example, the basestation may receive a Msg1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 .

The base station may then select based on an association, one or more DLBWPs and may transmit a respective random access response message usingresources in each of the one or more DL BWPs. In other words, the basestation may transmit a RAR on each of the one or more DL BWPs.

As previously described the association may map a plurality of DL BWPsof a carrier to different values of a parameter related to physicalrandom access configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier.

Therefore, in embodiments where the association links the PRACHconfiguration index used to transmit the preamble with one or more DLBWPs, the base station can determine, from the PRACH configuration indexof the received random access preamble, one or more DL BWPs that thewireless device that sent the transmission will be monitoring forreceipt of the RAR. The base station may therefore transmit RARs in eachof the determined one or more DL BWPs.

For the example illustrated in FIG. 3 , if the PRACH configuration ofthe received random access preamble has an index of 12, the base stationmay transmit a RAR in DL BWP2 and DL BWP3 as the wireless device may bemonitoring one or both of these DL BWPs.

In some examples, the parameter comprises an indication of a set ofrandom access preambles as illustrated in FIG. 4 . The base station maytherefore select the one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first randomaccess preamble in the association. For example, if the first randomaccess preamble falls within the set of preambles indicated by index 1,the base station may transmit RARs to both DL BWP1 and DL BWP2.

In some examples, the parameter comprises an indication of a set ofrandom access resources as illustrated in FIG. 4 . The base station maytherefore select the one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first randomaccess resources in the association. For example, if the first randomaccess resources fall within the set of resources indicated by index 1,the base station may transmit RARs to both DL BWP1 and DL BWP2.

In embodiments where the association maps the one or more DL BWPs to theUL BWP that was used when the preamble was transmitted, as illustratedin FIG. 5 , the base station may detect on which UL BWP the randomaccess preamble was initiated. For example, the base station may detecton which UL BWP the random access preamble was transmitted, based onbeam forming based reception. In other words, in some examples, the ULBWPs may be assigned to wireless devices based on their location. Thebase station may then be able to deduce based on beam forming, alocation of the wireless device, and from the location, which UL BWP thewireless device is used. The base station may then transmit a RAR ineach DL BWP linked to the detected UL BWP in the association.

For example, if the UL BWP2 is detected, the base station may transmitRARs on DL BWP1 and DL BWP2 as the wireless device may be monitoring oneor both of these DL BWPs.

The base station, when transmitting the RAR includes an indication ofuplink resources that the receiving wireless device may utilize totransmit the Msg3, as illustrated in FIG. 1 . However, as previouslyexplained, the base station may not be aware of which UL BWP is theactive UL BWP. For example, if a random access preamble is transmittedusing physical resource block PRB3, the base station may not be able todifferentiate between UL BWP1, UL BWP2 and UL BWP3. The base station maytherefore not know whether or not it can schedule uplink resources inPRB4, as the receiving wireless device may be operating in UL BWP1, orUL BWP3 which do not comprise PRB4.

The base station may therefore indicate in the each random accessresponse a respective set of uplink resources for each of one or more ULBWPs which comprise the random access resources. In other words, theeach random access response message may specify, for the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2 , PRB1 for UL BWP1, PRB4 for UL BWP2, and PRB2 forUL BWP3.

In some examples, the Medium Access Control (MAC) Payload Data Units(PDU) which carry the RAR message may comprise multiple MAC payloads(RARs) for Random Access Response. Each MAC payload may carry an uplinkgrant associated with an UL BWP. All these RARs may use a singleMAC-subheader (carrying a new specified Logical Channel ID (LCID)indicating that there are multiple MAC payloads are associated with thisLCID). In this case, a new LCID may be introduced. The RAR may in thisexample carry grants for all the possible UL BWPs that share the PRACHresource on which the preamble was transmitted.

In some examples, the MAC PDU which carries the RAR message carries onlyone RAR. In this RAR, multiple UL grants are included. Each grant isassociated with a specific UL BWP. Also in this example, the RAR maycarry grants for all the possible UL BWPs that share the PRACH resourceon which the preamble was transmitted.

In both choices, the index of each UL BWP which is associated with theuplink grant of resources may be also included.

FIG. 6 Illustrates a Wireless Network in Accordance with SomeEmbodiments

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in anyappropriate type of system using any suitable components, theembodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wirelessnetwork, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIG. 6 .For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 6 only depicts network 606,network nodes 660 and 660 b, and WDs 610, 610 b, and 610 c. In practice,a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitableto support communication between wireless devices or between a wirelessdevice and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, aservice provider, or any other network node or end device. Of theillustrated components, network node 660 and wireless device (WD) 610are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may providecommunication and other types of services to one or more wirelessdevices to facilitate the wireless devices’ access to and/or use of theservices provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type ofcommunication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio networkor other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wirelessnetwork may be configured to operate according to specific standards orother types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particularembodiments of the wireless network may implement communicationstandards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless localarea network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/orany other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as theWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth,Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network 606 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks,IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet datanetworks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local areanetworks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks,wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks toenable communication between devices.

Network node 660 and WD 610 comprise various components described inmore detail below. These components work together in order to providenetwork node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providingwireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments,the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wirelessnetworks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices,relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that mayfacilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signalswhether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured,arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with awireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in thewireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to thewireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration)in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are notlimited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), basestations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs(eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based onthe amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, theirtransmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto basestations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro basestations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor nodecontrolling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (orall) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralizeddigital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to asRemote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not beintegrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of adistributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in adistributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodesinclude multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, networkcontrollers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base stationcontrollers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities(MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SONnodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As anotherexample, a network node may be a virtual network node as described inmore detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may representany suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged,and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with accessto the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless devicethat has accessed the wireless network.

In FIG. 6 , network node 660 includes processing circuitry 670, devicereadable medium 680, interface 690, auxiliary equipment 684, powersource 686, power circuitry 687, and antenna 662. Although network node660 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIG. 6 may representa device that includes the illustrated combination of hardwarecomponents, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with differentcombinations of components. It is to be understood that a network nodecomprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed toperform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein.Moreover, while the components of network node 660 are depicted assingle boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multipleboxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple differentphysical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g.,device readable medium 680 may comprise multiple separate hard drives aswell as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node 660 may be composed of multiple physicallyseparate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or aBTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their ownrespective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 660comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components),one or more of the separate components may be shared among severalnetwork nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB’s.In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in someinstances be considered a single separate network node. In someembodiments, network node 660 may be configured to support multipleradio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some componentsmay be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 680 for thedifferent RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the sameantenna 662 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 660 may alsoinclude multiple sets of the various illustrated components fordifferent wireless technologies integrated into network node 660, suchas, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wirelesstechnologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into thesame or different chip or set of chips and other components withinnetwork node 660.

Processing circuitry 670 is configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being provided by a network node. These operationsperformed by processing circuitry 670 may include processing informationobtained by processing circuitry 670 by, for example, converting theobtained information into other information, comparing the obtainedinformation or converted information to information stored in thenetwork node, and/or performing one or more operations based on theobtained information or converted information, and as a result of saidprocessing making a determination.

Processing circuitry 670 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other networknode 660 components, such as device readable medium 680, network node660 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 670 may executeinstructions stored in device readable medium 680 or in memory withinprocessing circuitry 670. Such functionality may include providing anyof the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussedherein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 670 may include asystem on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry 670 may include one or more ofradio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 672 and baseband processingcircuitry 674. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceivercircuitry 672 and baseband processing circuitry 674 may be on separatechips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units anddigital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceivercircuitry 672 and baseband processing circuitry 674 may be on the samechip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or othersuch network device may be performed by processing circuitry 670executing instructions stored on device readable medium 680 or memorywithin processing circuitry 670. In alternative embodiments, some or allof the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 670 withoutexecuting instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readablemedium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments,whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storagemedium or not, processing circuitry 670 can be configured to perform thedescribed functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality arenot limited to processing circuitry 670 alone or to other components ofnetwork node 660, but are enjoyed by network node 660 as a whole, and/orby end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium 680 may comprise any form of volatile ornon-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation,persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory,magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removablestorage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or aDigital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devicesthat store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used byprocessing circuitry 670. Device readable medium 680 may store anysuitable instructions, data or information, including a computerprogram, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules,code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executedby processing circuitry 670 and, utilized by network node 660. Devicereadable medium 680 may be used to store any calculations made byprocessing circuitry 670 and/or any data received via interface 690. Insome embodiments, processing circuitry 670 and device readable medium680 may be considered to be integrated.

Interface 690 is used in the wired or wireless communication ofsignalling and/or data between network node 660, network 606, and/or WDs610. As illustrated, interface 690 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) 694 tosend and receive data, for example to and from network 606 over a wiredconnection. Interface 690 also includes radio front end circuitry 692that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna662. Radio front end circuitry 692 comprises filters 698 and amplifiers696. Radio front end circuitry 692 may be connected to antenna 662 andprocessing circuitry 670. Radio front end circuitry may be configured tocondition signals communicated between antenna 662 and processingcircuitry 670. Radio front end circuitry 692 may receive digital datathat is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wirelessconnection. Radio front end circuitry 692 may convert the digital datainto a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidthparameters using a combination of filters 698 and/or amplifiers 696. Theradio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 662. Similarly, whenreceiving data, antenna 662 may collect radio signals which are thenconverted into digital data by radio front end circuitry 692. Thedigital data may be passed to processing circuitry 670. In otherembodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/ordifferent combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 660 may not includeseparate radio front end circuitry 692, instead, processing circuitry670 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected toantenna 662 without separate radio front end circuitry 692. Similarly,in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 672 may beconsidered a part of interface 690. In still other embodiments,interface 690 may include one or more ports or terminals 694, radiofront end circuitry 692, and RF transceiver circuitry 672, as part of aradio unit (not shown), and interface 690 may communicate with basebandprocessing circuitry 674, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna 662 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 662 may becoupled to radio front end circuitry 690 and may be any type of antennacapable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. Insome embodiments, antenna 662 may comprise one or more omni-directional,sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signalsbetween, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna maybe used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sectorantenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from deviceswithin a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sightantenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straightline. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may bereferred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 662 may be separatefrom network node 660 and may be connectable to network node 660 throughan interface or port.

Antenna 662, interface 690, and/or processing circuitry 670 may beconfigured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtainingoperations described herein as being performed by a network node. Anyinformation, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device,another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly,antenna 662, interface 690, and/or processing circuitry 670 may beconfigured to perform any transmitting operations described herein asbeing performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signalsmay be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or anyother network equipment.

Power circuitry 687 may comprise, or be coupled to, power managementcircuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node 660with power for performing the functionality described herein. Powercircuitry 687 may receive power from power source 686. Power source 686and/or power circuitry 687 may be configured to provide power to thevarious components of network node 660 in a form suitable for therespective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed foreach respective component). Power source 686 may either be included in,or external to, power circuitry 687 and/or network node 660. Forexample, network node 660 may be connectable to an external power source(e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface suchas an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies powerto power circuitry 687. As a further example, power source 686 maycomprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery packwhich is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 687. Thebattery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also beused.

Alternative embodiments of network node 660 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 6 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, includingany of the functionality described herein and/or any functionalitynecessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example,network node 660 may include user interface equipment to allow input ofinformation into network node 660 and to allow output of informationfrom network node 660. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic,maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node660.

As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable,configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly withnetwork nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, theterm WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE).Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receivingwireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infraredwaves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying informationthrough air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmitand/or receive information without direct human interaction. Forinstance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on apredetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event,or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include,but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, avoice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, agaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance,a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, atablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mountedequipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment(CPE). a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc.. A WD maysupport device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example byimplementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication,vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I),vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2Dcommunication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet ofThings (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device thatperforms monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results ofsuch monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node.The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which mayin a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particularexample, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internetof things (NB-loT) standard. Particular examples of such machines ordevices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrialmachinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators,televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers,etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or otherequipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on itsoperational status or other functions associated with its operation. AWD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wirelessconnection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wirelessterminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in whichcase it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device 610 includes antenna 611, interface 614,processing circuitry 620, device readable medium 630, user interfaceequipment 632, auxiliary equipment 634, power source 636 and powercircuitry 637. WD 610 may include multiple sets of one or more of theillustrated components for different wireless technologies supported byWD 610, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, orBluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wirelesstechnologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or setof chips as other components within WD 610.

Antenna 611 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected tointerface 614. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 611 may beseparate from WD 610 and be connectable to WD 610 through an interfaceor port. Antenna 611, interface 614, and/or processing circuitry 620 maybe configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operationsdescribed herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, dataand/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. Insome embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 611 may beconsidered an interface.

As illustrated, interface 614 comprises radio front end circuitry 612and antenna 611. Radio front end circuitry 612 comprise one or morefilters 618 and amplifiers 616. Radio front end circuitry 614 isconnected to antenna 611 and processing circuitry 620, and is configuredto condition signals communicated between antenna 611 and processingcircuitry 620. Radio front end circuitry 612 may be coupled to or a partof antenna 611. In some embodiments, WD 610 may not include separateradio front end circuitry 612; rather, processing circuitry 620 maycomprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna 611.Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry622 may be considered a part of interface 614. Radio front end circuitry612 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other networknodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 612may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriatechannel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 618and/or amplifiers 616. The radio signal may then be transmitted viaantenna 611. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 611 may collectradio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio frontend circuitry 612. The digital data may be passed to processingcircuitry 620. In other embodiments, the interface may comprisedifferent components and/or different combinations of components.

Processing circuitry 620 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 610components, such as device readable medium 630, WD 610 functionality.Such functionality may include providing any of the various wirelessfeatures or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry620 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 630 or inmemory within processing circuitry 620 to provide the functionalitydisclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry 620 includes one or more of RFtransceiver circuitry 622, baseband processing circuitry 624, andapplication processing circuitry 626. In other embodiments, theprocessing circuitry may comprise different components and/or differentcombinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry620 of WD 610 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceivercircuitry 622, baseband processing circuitry 624, and applicationprocessing circuitry 626 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. Inalternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry624 and application processing circuitry 626 may be combined into onechip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 622 may be on aseparate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part orall of RF transceiver circuitry 622 and baseband processing circuitry624 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processingcircuitry 626 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet otheralternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 622,baseband processing circuitry 624, and application processing circuitry626 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In someembodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 622 may be a part of interface614. RF transceiver circuitry 622 may condition RF signals forprocessing circuitry 620.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processingcircuitry 620 executing instructions stored on device readable medium630, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storagemedium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality maybe provided by processing circuitry 620 without executing instructionsstored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such asin a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whetherexecuting instructions stored on a device readable storage medium ornot, processing circuitry 620 can be configured to perform the describedfunctionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are notlimited to processing circuitry 620 alone or to other components of WD610, but are enjoyed by WD 610 as a whole, and/or by end users and thewireless network generally.

Processing circuitry 620 may be configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, asperformed by processing circuitry 620, may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 620 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedby WD 610, and/or performing one or more operations based on theobtained information or converted information, and as a result of saidprocessing making a determination.

Device readable medium 630 may be operable to store a computer program,software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code,tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed byprocessing circuitry 620. Device readable medium 630 may includecomputer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory(ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media(e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or anyother volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/orcomputer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/orinstructions that may be used by processing circuitry 620. In someembodiments, processing circuitry 620 and device readable medium 630 maybe considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment 632 may provide components that allow for ahuman user to interact with WD 610. Such interaction may be of manyforms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment632 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the userto provide input to WD 610. The type of interaction may vary dependingon the type of user interface equipment 632 installed in WD 610. Forexample, if WD 610 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touchscreen; if WD 610 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through ascreen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or aspeaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).User interface equipment 632 may include input interfaces, devices andcircuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interfaceequipment 632 is configured to allow input of information into WD 610,and is connected to processing circuitry 620 to allow processingcircuitry 620 to process the input information. User interface equipment632 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor,keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or otherinput circuitry. User interface equipment 632 is also configured toallow output of information from WD 610, and to allow processingcircuitry 620 to output information from WD 610. User interfaceequipment 632 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibratingcircuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry.Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, ofuser interface equipment 632, WD 610 may communicate with end usersand/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from thefunctionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment 634 is operable to provide more specificfunctionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This maycomprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for variouspurposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wiredcommunications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliaryequipment 634 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source 636 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a batteryor battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or powercells, may also be used. WD 610 may further comprise power circuitry 637for delivering power from power source 636 to the various parts of WD610 which need power from power source 636 to carry out anyfunctionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 637 may incertain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry637 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power froman external power source; in which case WD 610 may be connectable to theexternal power source (such as an electricity outlet) via inputcircuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Powercircuitry 637 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliverpower from an external power source to power source 636. This may be,for example, for the charging of power source 636. Power circuitry 637may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to thepower from power source 636 to make the power suitable for therespective components of WD 610 to which power is supplied.

FIG. 7 Illustrates a User Equipment in Accordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with variousaspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may notnecessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/oroperates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device thatis intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which maynot, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific humanuser (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE mayrepresent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, anend user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit ofa user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 7200 may be any UE identified bythe 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-loT UE,a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.UE 700, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , is one example of a WD configured forcommunication in accordance with one or more communication standardspromulgated by the 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as3GPP’s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, theterm WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIG. 7is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD,and vice-versa.

In FIG. 7 , UE 700 includes processing circuitry 701 that is operativelycoupled to input/output interface 705, radio frequency (RF) interface709, network connection interface 711, memory 715 including randomaccess memory (RAM) 717, read-only memory (ROM) 719, and storage medium721 or the like, communication subsystem 731, power source 733, and/orany other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium 721includes operating system 723, application program 725, and data 727. Inother embodiments, storage medium 721 may include other similar types ofinformation. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in FIG.7 , or only a subset of the components. The level of integration betweenthe components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEsmay contain multiple instances of a component, such as multipleprocessors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

In FIG. 7 , processing circuitry 701 may be configured to processcomputer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 701 may beconfigured to implement any sequential state machine operative toexecute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computerprograms in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented statemachines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logictogether with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program,general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combinationof the above. For example, the processing circuitry 701 may include twocentral processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a formsuitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 705 may be configuredto provide a communication interface to an input device, output device,or input and output device. UE 700 may be configured to use an outputdevice via input/output interface 705. An output device may use the sametype of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port maybe used to provide input to and output from UE 700. The output devicemay be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, aprinter, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, orany combination thereof. UE 700 may be configured to use an input devicevia input/output interface 705 to allow a user to capture informationinto UE 700. The input device may include a touch-sensitive orpresence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digitalvideo camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, atrackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard,and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive orresistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, forinstance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor,a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another likesensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may bean accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and anoptical sensor.

In FIG. 7 , RF interface 709 may be configured to provide acommunication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, areceiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 711 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to network 743 a.Network 743 a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as alocal-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network,a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like networkor any combination thereof. For example, network 743 a may comprise aWi-Fi network. Network connection interface 711 may be configured toinclude a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate withone or more other devices over a communication network according to oneor more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM,or the like. Network connection interface 711 may implement receiver andtransmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links(e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiverfunctions may share circuit components, software or firmware, oralternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM 717 may be configured to interface via bus 702 to processingcircuitry 701 to provide storage or caching of data or computerinstructions during the execution of software programs such as theoperating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 719 maybe configured to provide computer instructions or data to processingcircuitry 701. For example, ROM 719 may be configured to store invariantlow-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basicinput and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from akeyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium 721may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmableread-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magneticdisks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, orflash drives. In one example, storage medium 721 may be configured toinclude operating system 723, application program 725 such as a webbrowser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application,and data file 727. Storage medium 721 may store, for use by UE 700, anyof a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operatingsystems.

Storage medium 721 may be configured to include a number of physicaldrive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppydisk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive,thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc(HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray opticaldisc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive,external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamicrandom access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcardmemory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity(SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storagemedium 721 may allow UE 700 to access computer-executable instructions,application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitorymemory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article ofmanufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may betangibly embodied in storage medium 721, which may comprise a devicereadable medium.

In FIG. 7 , processing circuitry 701 may be configured to communicatewith network 743 b using communication subsystem 731. Network 743 a andnetwork 743 b may be the same network or networks or different networkor networks. Communication subsystem 731 may be configured to includeone or more transceivers used to communicate with network 743 b. Forexample, communication subsystem 731 may be configured to include one ormore transceivers used to communicate with one or more remotetransceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such asanother WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN)according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.7,CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver mayinclude transmitter 733 and/or receiver 735 to implement transmitter orreceiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links(e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 733 andreceiver 735 of each transceiver may share circuit components, softwareor firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions ofcommunication subsystem 731 may include data communication, voicecommunication, multimedia communication, short-range communications suchas Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communicationsuch as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine alocation, another like communication function, or any combinationthereof. For example, communication subsystem 731 may include cellularcommunication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPScommunication. Network 743 b may encompass wired and/or wirelessnetworks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN),a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network,another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network743 b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-fieldnetwork. Power source 713 may be configured to provide alternatingcurrent (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 700.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may beimplemented in one of the components of UE 700 or partitioned acrossmultiple components of UE 700. Further, the features, benefits, and/orfunctions described herein may be implemented in any combination ofhardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem731 may be configured to include any of the components described herein.Further, processing circuitry 701 may be configured to communicate withany of such components over bus 702. In another example, any of suchcomponents may be represented by program instructions stored in memorythat when executed by processing circuitry 701 perform the correspondingfunctions described herein. In another example, the functionality of anyof such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry 701and communication subsystem 731. In another example, thenon-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may beimplemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensivefunctions may be implemented in hardware.

FIG. 8 Illustrates a Virtualization Environment in Accordance with SomeEmbodiments

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualizationenvironment 800 in which functions implemented by some embodiments maybe virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creatingvirtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may includevirtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networkingresources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node(e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) orto a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type ofcommunication device) or components thereof and relates to animplementation in which at least a portion of the functionality isimplemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or moreapplications, components, functions, virtual machines or containersexecuting on one or more physical processing nodes in one or morenetworks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein maybe implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtualmachines implemented in one or more virtual environments 800 hosted byone or more of hardware nodes 830. Further, in embodiments in which thevirtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radioconnectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may beentirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 820 (whichmay alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances,network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.)operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefitsof some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 820 are run invirtualization environment 800 which provides hardware 830 comprisingprocessing circuitry 860 and memory 890. Memory 890 containsinstructions 895 executable by processing circuitry 860 wherebyapplication 820 is operative to provide one or more of the features,benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment 800, comprises general-purpose orspecial-purpose network hardware devices 830 comprising a set of one ormore processors or processing circuitry 860, which may be commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitryincluding digital or analog hardware components or special purposeprocessors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 890-1 which may benon-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 895 orsoftware executed by processing circuitry 860. Each hardware device maycomprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 870, alsoknown as network interface cards, which include physical networkinterface 880. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory,persistent, machine-readable storage media 890-2 having stored thereinsoftware 895 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry 860.Software 895 may include any type of software including software forinstantiating one or more virtualization layers 850 (also referred to ashypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 840 as well assoftware allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefitsdescribed in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines 840, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory,virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by acorresponding virtualization layer 850 or hypervisor. Differentembodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 820 may be implementedon one or more of virtual machines 840, and the implementations may bemade in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry 860 executes software 895 toinstantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 850, which maysometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM).Virtualization layer 850 may present a virtual operating platform thatappears like networking hardware to virtual machine 840.

As shown in FIG. 8 , hardware 830 may be a standalone network node withgeneric or specific components. Hardware 830 may comprise antenna 8225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively,hardware 830 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such asin a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where manyhardware nodes work together and are managed via management andorchestration (MANO) 8100, which, among others, oversees lifecyclemanagement of applications 820.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to asnetwork function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidatemany network equipment types onto industry standard high volume serverhardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be locatedin data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine 840 may be a softwareimplementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they wereexecuting on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtualmachines 840, and that part of hardware 830 that executes that virtualmachine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/orhardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtualmachines 840, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) isresponsible for handling specific network functions that run in one ormore virtual machines 840 on top of hardware networking infrastructure830 and corresponds to application 820 in FIG. 8 .

In some embodiments, one or more radio units 8200 that each include oneor more transmitters 8220 and one or more receivers 8210 may be coupledto one or more antennas 8225. Radio units 8200 may communicate directlywith hardware nodes 830 via one or more appropriate network interfacesand may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide avirtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or abase station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use ofcontrol system 8230 which may alternatively be used for communicationbetween the hardware nodes 830 and radio units 8200.

FIG. 9 Illustrates a Telecommunication Network Connected Via anIntermediate Network to a Host Computer in Accordance with SomeEmbodiments

With reference to FIG. 9 , in accordance with an embodiment, acommunication system includes telecommunication network 910, such as a3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 911, such asa radio access network, and core network 914. Access network 911comprises a plurality of base stations 912 a, 912 b, 912 c, such as NBs,eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining acorresponding coverage area 913 a, 913 b, 913 c. Each base station 912a, 912 b, 912 c is connectable to core network 914 over a wired orwireless connection 915. A first UE 991 located in coverage area 913 cis configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, thecorresponding base station 912 c. A second UE 992 in coverage area 913 ais wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 912 a. Whilea plurality of UEs 991, 992 are illustrated in this example, thedisclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a soleUE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to thecorresponding base station 912.

Telecommunication network 910 is itself connected to host computer 930,which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standaloneserver, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or asprocessing resources in a server farm. Host computer 930 may be underthe ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated bythe service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections921 and 922 between telecommunication network 910 and host computer 930may extend directly from core network 914 to host computer 930 or may govia an optional intermediate network 920. Intermediate network 920 maybe one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private orhosted network; intermediate network 920, if any, may be a backbonenetwork or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network 920 maycomprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of FIG. 9 as a whole enables connectivitybetween the connected UEs 991 , 992 and host computer 930. Theconnectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 950.Host computer 930 and the connected UEs 991, 992 are configured tocommunicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 950, using accessnetwork 911, core network 914, any intermediate network 920 and possiblefurther infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection 950may be transparent in the sense that the participating communicationdevices through which OTT connection 950 passes are unaware of routingof uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station 912 maynot or need not be informed about the past routing of an incomingdownlink communication with data originating from host computer 930 tobe forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 991. Similarly, basestation 912 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoinguplink communication originating from the UE 991 towards the hostcomputer 930.

FIG. 10 Illustrates a Host Computer Communicating Via a Base Stationwith a User Equipment Over a Partially Wireless Connection in Accordancewith Some Embodiments

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE,base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphswill now be described with reference to FIG. 10 . In communicationsystem 1000, host computer 1010 comprises hardware 1015 includingcommunication interface 1016 configured to set up and maintain a wiredor wireless connection with an interface of a different communicationdevice of communication system 1000. Host computer 1010 furthercomprises processing circuitry 1018, which may have storage and/orprocessing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 1018 maycomprise one or more programmable processors, application-specificintegrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations ofthese (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 1010further comprises software 1011, which is stored in or accessible byhost computer 1010 and executable by processing circuitry 1018. Software1011 includes host application 1012. Host application 1012 may beoperable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE 1030connecting via OTT connection 1050 terminating at UE 1030 and hostcomputer 1010. In providing the service to the remote user, hostapplication 1012 may provide user data which is transmitted using OTTconnection 1050.

Communication system 1000 further includes base station 1020 provided ina telecommunication system and comprising hardware 1025 enabling it tocommunicate with host computer 1010 and with UE 1030. Hardware 1025 mayinclude communication interface 1026 for setting up and maintaining awired or wireless connection with an interface of a differentcommunication device of communication system 1000, as well as radiointerface 1027 for setting up and maintaining at least wirelessconnection 1070 with UE 1030 located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG. 10 ) served by base station 1020. Communication interface 1026 maybe configured to facilitate connection 1060 to host computer 1010.Connection 1060 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (notshown in FIG. 10 ) of the telecommunication system and/or through one ormore intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In theembodiment shown, hardware 1025 of base station 1020 further includesprocessing circuitry 1028, which may comprise one or more programmableprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmablegate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to executeinstructions. Base station 1020 further has software 1021 storedinternally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system 1000 further includes UE 1030 already referred to.Its hardware 1035 may include radio interface 1037 configured to set upand maintain wireless connection 1070 with a base station serving acoverage area in which UE 1030 is currently located. Hardware 1035 of UE1030 further includes processing circuitry 1038, which may comprise oneor more programmable processors, application-specific integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (notshown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 1030 further comprisessoftware 1031, which is stored in or accessible by UE 1030 andexecutable by processing circuitry 1038. Software 1031 includes clientapplication 1032. Client application 1032 may be operable to provide aservice to a human or non-human user via UE 1030, with the support ofhost computer 1010. In host computer 1010, an executing host application1012 may communicate with the executing client application 1032 via OTTconnection 1050 terminating at UE 1030 and host computer 1010. Inproviding the service to the user, client application 1032 may receiverequest data from host application 1012 and provide user data inresponse to the request data. OTT connection 1050 may transfer both therequest data and the user data. Client application 1032 may interactwith the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer 1010, base station 1020 and UE 1030illustrated in FIG. 10 may be similar or identical to host computer 930,one of base stations 912 a, 912 b, 912 c and one of UEs 991, 992 of FIG.9 , respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entitiesmay be as shown in FIG. 10 and independently, the surrounding networktopology may be that of FIG. 9 .

In FIG. 10 , OTT connection 1050 has been drawn abstractly to illustratethe communication between host computer 1010 and UE 1030 via basestation 1020, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices andthe precise routing of messages via these devices. Networkinfrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured tohide from UE 1030 or from the service provider operating host computer1010, or both. While OTT connection 1050 is active, the networkinfrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamicallychanges the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing considerationor reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection 1070 between UE 1030 and base station 1020 is inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve theperformance of OTT services provided to UE 1030 using OTT connection1050, in which wireless connection 1070 forms the last segment. Moreprecisely, the teachings of these embodiments may reduce the resourcesrequired to perform a random access procedure, and thereby providebenefits such as reduced power consumption.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoringdata rate, latency and other factors on which the one or moreembodiments improve. There may further be an optional networkfunctionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 1050 between hostcomputer 1010 and UE 1030, in response to variations in the measurementresults. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality forreconfiguring OTT connection 1050 may be implemented in software 1011and hardware 1015 of host computer 1010 or in software 1031 and hardware1035 of UE 1030, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may bedeployed in or in association with communication devices through whichOTT connection 1050 passes; the sensors may participate in themeasurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantitiesexemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities fromwhich software 1011, 1031 may compute or estimate the monitoredquantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 1050 may include messageformat, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; thereconfiguring need not affect base station 1020, and it may be unknownor imperceptible to base station 1020. Such procedures andfunctionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certainembodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signalingfacilitating host computer 1010′s measurements of throughput,propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may beimplemented in that software 1011 and 1031 causes messages to betransmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTTconnection 1050 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG. 11 Illustrates Methods Implemented in a Communication SystemIncluding a Host Computer, a Base Station and a User Equipment inAccordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 11will be included in this section. In step 1110, the host computerprovides user data. In substep 1111 (which may be optional) of step1110, the host computer provides the user data by executing a hostapplication. In step 1120, the host computer initiates a transmissioncarrying the user data to the UE. In step 1130 (which may be optional),the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried inthe transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance withthe teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.In step 1140 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a clientapplication associated with the host application executed by the hostcomputer.

FIG. 12 Illustrates Methods Implemented in a Communication SystemIncluding a Host Computer, a Base Station And a User Equipment inAccordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 12will be included in this section. In step 1210 of the method, the hostcomputer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the hostcomputer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step1220, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user datato the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordancewith the teachings of the embodiments described throughout thisdisclosure. In step 1230 (which may be optional), the UE receives theuser data carried in the transmission.

FIG. 13 Illustrates Methods Implemented in a Communication SystemIncluding a Host Computer, a Base Station and a User Equipment inAccordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 13will be included in this section. In step 1310 (which may be optional),the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionallyor alternatively, in step 1320, the UE provides user data. In substep1321 (which may be optional) of step 1320, the UE provides the user databy executing a client application. In substep 1311 (which may beoptional) of step 1310, the UE executes a client application whichprovides the user data in reaction to the received input data providedby the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed clientapplication may further consider user input received from the user.Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided,the UE initiates, in substep 1330 (which may be optional), transmissionof the user data to the host computer. In step 1340 of the method, thehost computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure.

FIG. 14 Illustrates Methods Implemented in a Communication SystemIncluding a Host Computer, a Base Station and a User Equipment inAccordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 . Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 14will be included in this section. In step 1410 (which may be optional),in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. Instep 1420 (which may be optional), the base station initiatestransmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step1430 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user datacarried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

FIG. 15 Illustrates a Method in Accordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 15 depicts a method in accordance with particular embodiments, themethod begins at step 1502 with responsive to transmitting a firstrandom access preamble to a base station using first random accessresources in an uplink, UL, bandwidth part, BWP, of a carrier:selecting, based on an association, a first downlink, DL, BWP of thecarrier, wherein the association maps a plurality of DL BWPs of thecarrier to different values of a parameter related to physical randomaccess configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier. Instep 1504 the method comprises monitoring the first DL BWP in order toreceive a random access response from the base station.

FIG. 16 Illustrates a Method in Accordance with Some Embodiments

FIG. 16 depicts a method in accordance with particular embodiments, themethod begins at step 1602 with receiving from a wireless device, afirst random access preamble on first random access resources. In step1604 the method comprises selecting based on an association, one or moreDL BWPs, wherein the association maps a plurality of DL BWPs of acarrier to different values of a parameter related to physical randomaccess configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier. Instep 1606 the method comprises transmitting a respective random accessresponse message using resources in each of the one or more DL BWPs.

FIG. 17 Illustrates a Virtualization Apparatus in Accordance with SomeEmbodiments

FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1700 in awireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in FIG. 6 ).The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node(e.g., wireless device 610 or network node 660 shown in FIG. 6 ).Apparatus 1700 is operable to carry out the example method describedwith reference to FIG. 15 and possibly any other processes or methodsdisclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of FIG. 15is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1700. At least someoperations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual Apparatus 1700 may comprise processing circuitry, which mayinclude one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as otherdigital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs),special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitrymay be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which mayinclude one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, opticalstorage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes programinstructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or datacommunications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one ormore of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In someimplementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause selectingunit 1702 and monitoring unit 1704, and any other suitable units ofapparatus 1700 to perform corresponding functions according one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 , apparatus 1700 includes selecting unit 1702and monitoring unit 1704. Selecting unit 1702 is configured toresponsive to transmitting a first random access preamble to a basestation using first random access resources in an uplink, UL, bandwidthpart, BWP, of a carrier select, based on an association, a firstdownlink, DL, BWP of the carrier. Monitoring unit 1704 is configured tomonitor the first DL BWP in order to receive a random access responsefrom the base station.

FIG. 18 Illustrates a Virtualization Apparatus in Accordance with SomeEmbodiments

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1800 in awireless network (for example, the wireless network shown in FIG. 6 ).The apparatus may be implemented in a wireless device or network node(e.g., wireless device 610 or network node 660 shown in FIG. 6 ).Apparatus 1800 is operable to carry out the example method describedwith reference to FIG. 16 and possibly any other processes or methodsdisclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method of FIG. 16is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus 1800. At least someoperations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual Apparatus 1800 may comprise processing circuitry, which mayinclude one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as otherdigital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs),special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitrymay be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which mayinclude one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, opticalstorage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes programinstructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or datacommunications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one ormore of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In someimplementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause selectingunit 1802 and monitoring unit 1804, and any other suitable units ofapparatus 1800 to perform corresponding functions according one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 18 , apparatus 1800 includes receiving unit 1802,selecting unit 1804 and transmitting unit 1806. Receiving unit 1802 isconfigured to receive from a wireless device, a first random accesspreamble on first random access resources. Selecting unit 1804 isconfigured to select based on an association, one or more DL BWPs,wherein the association maps a plurality of DL BWPs of a carrier todifferent values of a parameter related to physical random accessconfigurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier. Transmittingunit 1806 is configured to transmit a respective random access responsemessage using resources in each of the one or more DL BWPs.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics,electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, forexample, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules,processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices,computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks,procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and soon, as such as those that are described herein.

There is therefore provided methods and apparatus for providing a randomaccess procedure according to embodiments herein. In particular themethods and apparatus provided herein are for use with wireless devicesconfigured with UL and DL BWPs.

EMBODIMENTS Group A Embodiments

1. A method performed by a wireless device for performing a randomaccess procedure to access a wireless communications network, the methodcomprising:

-   responsive to transmitting a first random access preamble to a base    station using first random access resources in an uplink, UL,    bandwidth part, BWP, of a carrier:    -   i. selecting, based on an association, a first downlink, DL, BWP        of the carrier, wherein the association maps a plurality of DL        BWPs of the carrier to different values of a parameter related        to physical random access configurations and/or to different UL        BWPs of the carrier; and    -   ii. monitoring the first DL BWP in order to receive a random        access response from the base station.

2. The method as in embodiment 1 wherein the parameter comprises anindex of a physical random access channel configuration; and the methodfurther comprises:

-   determining a first index of a first physical random access channel    configuration used to transmit the random access preamble, and-   selecting the first DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped to the    first index in the association.

3. The method as in embodiment 1 wherein the parameter comprises anindication of a set of random access preambles, and the method furthercomprises: selecting the first DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped tothe first random access preamble in the association.

4. The method as in embodiment 11 wherein the parameter comprises anindication of a set of random access resources, and the method furthercomprises selecting the first DL BWP from one or more DL BWPs mapped tothe first random access resources in the association.

5. The method as in any preceding embodiment further comprisingmonitoring the first DL BWP for a predetermined time period; andresponsive to the predetermined time period elapsing, switching tomonitoring an active DL BWP for data reception.

6. The method as in any one of embodiments 1 to 4 further comprisingmonitoring the first DL BWP in order to receive a random access responsefrom the base station and simultaneously monitoring an active DL BWP fordata reception.

7. The method as in embodiment 6 wherein the first BWP and the active DLBWP are the same.

8. The method as in any one of embodiments 1 to 7 wherein the step ofselecting comprises: responsive to the one or more DL BWPs comprising anactive DL BWP which the wireless device is configured to monitor fordata reception, selecting the active DL BWP as the first DL BWP.

9. The method as in any one of embodiments 1 to 7 wherein the step ofselecting comprises; selecting the first DL BWP based on a bandwidthcapability associated with the wireless device.

10. The method as in any one of embodiments 1 to 9 further comprising:

-   monitoring the first DL BWP for a predetermined time period; and-   responsive to the predetermined time period elapsing selecting a    second DL BWP based on the association and monitoring the second DL    BWP.

11. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising:

-   providing user data; and-   forwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to    the base station.

Group B Embodiments

12. A method performed by a base station for performing a random accessprocedure, the method comprising:

-   receiving from a wireless device, a first random access preamble on    first random access resources;-   selecting based on an association, one or more DL BWPs, wherein-   the association maps a plurality of DL BWPs of a carrier to    different values of a parameter related to physical random access    configurations and/or to different UL BWPs of the carrier; and-   transmitting a respective random access response message using    resources in each of the one or more DL BWPs.

13. The method as in embodiment 12 wherein the parameter comprises anindex of a physical random access channel configuration, and the methodfurther comprises:

-   determining a first index of a first physical random access channel    configuration used to transmit the random access preamble, and-   selecting one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first index in the    association.

14. The method as in embodiment 12 wherein the parameter comprises anindication of a set of random access preambles, and the method furthercomprises: selecting the one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first randomaccess preamble in the association.

15. The method as in embodiment 12 wherein the parameter comprises anindication of a set of random access resources, and the method furthercomprises: selecting the one or more DL BWPs mapped to the first randomaccess resources in the association.

16. The method as in embodiment 12 wherein the association links the oneor more DL BWPs to the UL BWP, and wherein the step of selectingcomprises:

-   determining using beam forming based reception, a first UL BWP that    the wireless device used when transmitting the random access    preamble; and-   selecting the one or more DL BWPs that the association links to the    first UL BWP.

17. The method as in any one of embodiments 11 to 14 wherein eachrespective random access response message indicates a respective set ofuplink resources for each of one or more UL BWPs which comprise therandom access resources.

18. The method as in embodiment 16 wherein each respective random accessresponse message comprises a plurality of random access responses eachindicating a set of uplink resources for one of the one or more UL BWPs.

19. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising:

-   obtaining user data; and-   forwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

Group C Embodiments

20. A wireless device for receiving updated system information (SI) froma base station, the wireless device comprising:

-   processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any    of the Group A embodiments; and-   power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless    device.

21. A base station for transmitting updated system information (SI) to awireless device, the base station comprising:

-   processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any    of the Group B embodiments;-   power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the base    station.

22. A user equipment (UE) for receiving updated system information (SI)from a base station, the UE comprising:

-   an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals;-   radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing    circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between    the antenna and the processing circuitry;-   the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the    steps of any of the Group A embodiments;-   an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and    configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed    by the processing circuitry;-   an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and    configured to output information from the UE that has been processed    by the processing circuitry; and-   a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to    supply power to the UE.

23. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

-   processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and-   a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a    cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),-   wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio    interface and processing circuitry, the base station’s processing    circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group    B embodiments.

24. The communication system of the previous embodiment furtherincluding the base station.

25. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with thebase station.

26. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

-   the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to    execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and-   the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client    application associated with the host application.

27. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

-   at the host computer, providing user data; and-   at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user    data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station,    wherein the base station performs any of the steps of any of the    Group B embodiments.

28. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at thebase station, transmitting the user data.

29. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data isprovided at the host computer by executing a host application, themethod further comprising, at the UE, executing a client applicationassociated with the host application.

30. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station,the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configuredto performs the of the previous 3 embodiments.

31. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

-   processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and-   a communication interface configured to forward user data to a    cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),-   wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry,    the UE’s components configured to perform any of the steps of any of    the Group A embodiments.

32. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein thecellular network further includes a base station configured tocommunicate with the UE.

33. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein:

-   the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to    execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and-   the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client    application associated with the host application.

34. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

-   at the host computer, providing user data; and-   at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user    data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station,    wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A    embodiments.

35. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the UE,receiving the user data from the base station.

36. A communication system including a host computer comprising:

-   communication interface configured to receive user data originating    from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station,-   wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry,    the UE’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps    of any of the Group A embodiments.

37. The communication system of the previous embodiment, furtherincluding the UE.

38. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radiointerface configured to communicate with the UE and a communicationinterface configured to forward to the host computer the user datacarried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.

39. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

-   the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to    execute a host application; and-   the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client    application associated with the host application, thereby providing    the user data.

40. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein:

-   the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to    execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and-   the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client    application associated with the host application, thereby providing    the user data in response to the request data.

41. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

-   at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base    station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any    of the Group A embodiments.

42. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at theUE, providing the user data to the base station.

43. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising:

-   at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the    user data to be transmitted; and-   at the host computer, executing a host application associated with    the client application.

44. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising:

-   at the UE, executing a client application; and-   at the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input    data being provided at the host computer by executing a host    application associated with the client application,-   wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client    application in response to the input data.

45. A communication system including a host computer comprising acommunication interface configured to receive user data originating froma transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein thebase station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, thebase station’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of thesteps of any of the Group B embodiments.

46. The communication system of the previous embodiment furtherincluding the base station.

47. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, furtherincluding the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with thebase station.

48. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:

-   the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to    execute a host application;-   the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with    the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received    by the host computer.

49. A method implemented in a communication system including a hostcomputer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the methodcomprising:

-   at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data    originating from a transmission which the base station has received    from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the    Group A embodiments.

50. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at thebase station, receiving the user data from the UE.

51. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at thebase station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to thehost computer.

ABBREVIATIONS

At least some of the following abbreviations may be used in thisdisclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations,preference should be given to how it is used above. If listed multipletimes below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequentlisting(s).

1x RTT CDMA2000 1x Radio Transmission Technology 3GPP 3rd GenerationPartnership Project 5G 5th Generation ABS Almost Blank Subframe ARQAutomatic Repeat Request AWGN Additive White Gaussian Noise BCCHBroadcast Control Channel BCH Broadcast Channel CA Carrier AggregationCC Carrier Component CCCH SDUCommon Control Channel SDU CDMA CodeDivision Multiplexing Access CGI Cell Global Identifier CIR ChannelImpulse Response CP Cyclic Prefix CPICH Common Pilot Channel CPICH Ec/NoCPICH Received energy per chip divided by the power density in the bandCQI Channel Quality information C-RNTI Cell RNTI CSI Channel StateInformation DCCH Dedicated Control Channel DL Downlink DM DemodulationDMRS Demodulation Reference Signal DRX Discontinuous Reception DTXDiscontinuous Transmission DTCH Dedicated Traffic Channel DUT DeviceUnder Test E-CID Enhanced Cell-ID (positioning method) E-SMLCEvolved-Serving Mobile Location Centre ECGI Evolved CGI eNB E-UTRANNodeB ePDCCH enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel E-SMLC evolvedServing Mobile Location Center E-UTRA Evolved UTRA E-UTRAN Evolved UTRANFDD Frequency Division Duplex FFS For Further Study GERAN GSM EDGE RadioAccess Network gNB Base station in NR GNSS Global Navigation SatelliteSystem GSM Global System for Mobile communication HARQ Hybrid AutomaticRepeat Request HO Handover HSPA High Speed Packet Access HRPD High RatePacket Data LOS Line of Sight LPP LTE Positioning Protocol LTE Long-TermEvolution MAC Medium Access Control MBMS Multimedia Broadcast MulticastServices MBSFN Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single FrequencyNetwork MBSFN ABS MBSFN Almost Blank Subframe MDT Minimization of DriveTests MIB Master Information Block MME Mobility Management Entity MSCMobile Switching Center NPDCCH Narrowband Physical Downlink ControlChannel NR New Radio OCNG OFDMA Channel Noise Generator OFDM OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiplexing OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access OSS Operations Support System OTDOA Observed TimeDifference of Arrival O&M Operation and Maintenance PBCH PhysicalBroadcast Channel P-CCPCH Primary Common Control Physical Channel PCellPrimary Cell PCFICH Physical Control Format Indicator Channel PDCCHPhysical Downlink Control Channel PDP Profile Delay Profile PDSCHPhysical Downlink Shared Channel PGW Packet Gateway PHICH PhysicalHybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel PLMN Public Land Mobile Network PMIPrecoder Matrix Indicator PRACH Physical Random Access Channel PRSPositioning Reference Signal PSS Primary Synchronization Signal PUCCHPhysical Uplink Control Channel PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared ChannelRACH Random Access Channel QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation RAN RadioAccess Network RAT Radio Access Technology RLM Radio Link Management RNCRadio Network Controller RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identifier RRCRadio Resource Control RRM Radio Resource Management RS Reference SignalRSCP Received Signal Code Power RSRP Reference Symbol Received Power ORReference Signal Received Power RSRQ Reference Signal Received QualityOR Reference Symbol Received Quality RSSI Received Signal StrengthIndicator RSTD Reference Signal Time Difference SCH SynchronizationChannel SCell Secondary Cell SDU Service Data Unit SFN System FrameNumber SGW Serving Gateway SI System Information SIB System InformationBlock SNR Signal to Noise Ratio SON Self Optimized Network SSSynchronization Signal SSS Secondary Synchronization Signal TDD TimeDivision Duplex TDOA Time Difference of Arrival TOA Time of Arrival TSSTertiary Synchronization Signal TTI Transmission Time Interval UE UserEquipment UL Uplink UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System USIMUniversal Subscriber Identity Module UTDOA Uplink Time Difference ofArrival UTRA Universal Terrestrial Radio Access UTRAN UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access Network WCDMA Wide CDMA WLAN Wide Local AreaNetwork

1. A method performed by a wireless device for random access to awireless communications network, the method comprising: transmitting arandom access preamble in a first uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) of acarrier; selecting a first downlink (DL) BWP of the carrier based on anassociation between the first UL BWP and the first DL BWP; andmonitoring the first DL BWP for a random access response from thewireless communication network to the transmitted random accesspreamble.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first DL BWP is selectedbased on both the first UL BWP and the first DL BWP being associatedwith a first index.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first indexidentifies one or more DL BWPs, including the first DL BWP, on which arandom access response will be transmitted by the wireless communicationnetwork in response to receiving a random access preamble transmittedusing one or more of the following identified by the first index: aphysical random access channel (PRACH) configuration, and random accessresources.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first UL BWP isassociated with a physical random access channel (PRACH) configurationidentified by the first index.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein therandom access preamble is transmitted using random access resources thatare identified by the first index and that are in the first UL BWP. 6.The method of claim 2, wherein the random access preamble is included ina set of using random access preambles that are identified by the firstindex.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: the random access preamble istransmitted in random access resources that are associated with aplurality of UL BWPs, including the first UL BWP; and the method furthercomprises receiving the random access response in the first DL BWP basedon the monitoring, wherein the random access response includes aplurality of grants of uplink resources in the respective plurality ofUL BWPs.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first DL BWP ofthe carrier is further based on one or more of the following: the firstDL BWP being an active DL BWP that the wireless device is configured tomonitor for data reception; bandwidth capability of the wireless device;and random selection from among a plurality of DL BWPs associated withthe first UL BWP.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, aftermonitoring the first DL BWP for a predetermined time period withoutreceiving a random access response, selecting a second DL BWP of thecarrier and monitoring the selected second DL BWP for a random accessresponse from the wireless communication network, wherein the second DLBWP is selected based on one of the following: an association betweenthe first UL BWP and the second DL BWP, or the second DL BWP being anactive DL BWP that the wireless device is configured to monitor for datareception.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring anactive DL BWP for data reception while monitoring the first DL BWP forthe random access response.
 11. A wireless device configured for randomaccess to a wireless communications network, the wireless devicecomprising: transceiver circuitry configured to communicate with thewireless communications network; and processing circuitry operablycoupled to the transceiver circuitry, whereby the processing circuitryand the transceiver circuitry are configured to perform operationscorresponding to the method of claim
 1. 12. A method performed by a basestation of a wireless communication network to support random access bywireless devices to the wireless communication network, the methodcomprising: receiving a random access preamble from a wireless device ina first uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) of a carrier; selecting one ormore downlink (DL) BWPs of the carrier based on an association betweenthe first UL BWP and the one or more DL BWPs; and transmittingrespective one or more random access responses to the wireless device inthe one or more DL BWPs.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one ormore DL BWPs are selected based on both the first UL BWP and the one ormore DL BWPs being associated with a first index.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the first index identifies one or more DL BWPs onwhich a random access response will be transmitted by the base stationin response to receiving a random access preamble transmitted by awireless device using one or more of the following identified by thefirst index: a physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration, andrandom access resources.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the firstUL BWP is associated with a physical random access channel (PRACH)configuration identified by the first index.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the random access preamble is transmitted using random accessresources that are identified by the first index and that are in thefirst UL BWP.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the random accesspreamble is included in a set of using random access preambles that areidentified by the first index.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein: therandom access preamble is received in random access resources that areassociated with a plurality of UL BWPs, including the first UL BWP; andeach particular random access response, transmitted in a particular DLBWP, includes a plurality of grants of uplink resources in therespective plurality of UL BWPs.
 19. The method of claim 12, whereinreceiving the random access preamble from the wireless device in thefirst UL BWP of the carrier comprises: receiving, via beamforming, therandom access preamble in a beam associated with a coverage area; anddetermining that the random access preamble was transmitted by thewireless device in the first UL BWP based on an association between thecoverage area and the UL BWP.
 20. A base station configured to supportrandom access by wireless devices to a wireless communication network,the base station comprising: transceiver circuitry configured tocommunicate with the wireless devices; and processing circuitry operablycoupled to the transceiver circuitry, whereby the processing circuitryand the transceiver circuitry are configured to perform operationscorresponding to the method of claim 12.